Aqua Hot Maintenance

[Gyrophoenix]

This question is directed at those of you who have Aqua Hot systems installed in your RV/Coachs, and are either full timers (as in our case) or you use your unit at least 6 months every year:

The company suggests do maintenance annually. The 3 big items are replacing the fuel nozzle, the fuel filter and cleaning the interior of the combustion chamber. I did it last year, and it's a bit of a pain, but it's easy.

One of the biggest lessons learned during WWII in terms of maintenance of equipment is that equipment actually breaks down less if only serviced when necessary, not on a fixed schedule This is particularly true for aircraft.

So, for those of you who've been using your Aqua Hot units for years, what is your experience regarding maintenance? Are you doing it annually, or every two years, or...?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Utclmjmpr]

I guess you forget that the FAA REQUIRES regular inspections and maintenance on a regulated time frame,,,no excuses..>>>Dan A/P A/I DOM 33 years.

 

[Gyrophoenix]

I guess you forget that the FAA REQUIRES regular inspections and maintenance on a regulated time frame,,,no excuses..>>>Dan A/P A/I DOM 33 years.

As a pilot and CFI for over 20 years, I'm quite familiar with FAA regs. Two things:
1) The FAA regs require annual inspections. Maintenance is rarely mandated, unless needed due to failing inspection. Some parts, such as engines, have a recommended TBO, which is usually adhered to by commercial firms for insurance and liability purposes. Most private pilots don't adhere to the TBO time unless an inspection indicates the need. It's known that the more consistently an engine is used, the longer it will last between overhauls.
2) The FAA was established in 1958, 13 years after the end of WWII. Therefore there were no FAA regs at the time. As I said, it became common knowledge during the war that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[Larry N.]

2) The FAA was established in 1958, 13 years after the end of WWII. Therefore there were no FAA regs at the time. As I said, it became common knowledge during the war that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

A minor quibble, but there were CAA regs. The name change doesn't affect that.

 

[Kevin Means]

Our Winnie Tour has an Aqua Hot system, and we've used it in cold weather a handful of times. If the furnace has 100 hours on it, I'd be surprised. The most used feature of our Aqua Hot system is the hydronic hot water heating from the engine. That runs all the time.

The first two years we had this coach, I pulled the cover off the unit, cleaned it and inspected the filter, diesel nozzle etc. but nothing needed fixing. I bought a kit with some spare parts in it, but I've never even opened it. I haven't had to replace a single part in 12 years. In all honesty, I haven't opened it up again in the last 8 years or so. I probably should, but it works just fine.

We have found that in temps down to a little above freezing, our Big Buddy propane heater is more economical, it uses no electrical power and it's a LOT quieter than the Aqua Hot. It doesn't distribute the heat as well as the Aqua Hot, but over time, it does OK. The coach is big, so we've never had any moisture problems, and the Big Buddy is indoor safe, although we do leave a vent and window cracked.

Kev